Can Republicans still change their presidential nominee?published at 15:16 British Summer Time 31 May

15:16 BST 31 May

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

Julie in Munich asks: Is it too late for the Republicans to choose another candidate or are they too far down the line to switch to another candidate, such as Nikki Haley? Would they lose face if they did switch now?

With the Republican National Convention still more than a month away, it’s technically not too late for the party to change its presidential nominee. Nothing is written in stone until the balloons drop in Milwaukee in mid-July.

Practically, however, such a plot twist is almost unthinkable.

Long gone are the days of backroom meetings, where party bosses gather to pick their nominee. Switching from Trump would require convention delegates who have been selected by his campaign on the basis of their service and loyalty to break with their leader in a particularly visible and dramatic way.

That’s just not going to happen unless Trump withdraws from the race and gives them new marching orders.

The chance for the Republican Party to move in a different direction came and went with the primary votes earlier this year – votes that Trump overwhelmingly won.

Convictions or not, it’s still his party until proven otherwise.

Will we ever find out who the jurors were?published at 15:10 British Summer Time 31 May

15:10 BST 31 May

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from New York

Karen from England asks: Will the jurors' names be kept secret in this case?

From the outset of this trial, Justice Juan Merchan made the decision to keep the jurors in this extremely high-profile case anonymous. Only people who have attended the trial in-person know what these jurors look like. Reporters only have a basic description of them, not their names.

Yesterday, Justice Merchan told jurors that now the trial is over, they have the option to come forward, or not.

In Trump’s previous civil trial in New York brought by writer E Jean Carroll, the judge cautioned jurors not to come forward because of the risks.

Trump has an extraordinarily strong base of supporters, some of whom have lodged threats against those who have attacked the former president publicly.

For this reason, jurors may wish to remain anonymous to the public in this trial of the century.

Image source, Reuters / Jane Rosenberg

Can Trump pardon himself if he wins in November?published at 15:04 British Summer Time 31 May

15:04 BST 31 May

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from New York

Amadito Morante asks: So ok, he was found guilty of all charges. But what happens if he is elected as president, can he be pardoned?

It’s too soon to tell whether Trump will win his 2024 rematch against Joe Biden and whether his felony conviction could impact his chances.

But if he is elected, he cannot pardon himself in this case.

That’s because these are state felony charges. He is also facing federal charges, although those may not go to trial before the election.

The US Constitution does give the president power to pardon federal crimes, although a president pardoning himself remains an untested area.

Has Trump's guilty verdict changed how his supporters will vote?published at 15:03 British Summer Time 31 May

15:03 BST 31 May

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from New York

Chris Keppie, 45, from Wales asks: Do we have an idea of the proportion of Trump supporters who will still vote for him because they think the trial was a sham, compared to those who accept the guilty verdicts and just don't care?

Trump has an extremely dedicated base of supporters. We’ve seen many of them outside the courthouse and in the main courtroom nearly every day showing their support.

They repeat many of his unsubstantiated allegations - that the trial has been rigged against him and that the case was concocted by his political opponent President Joe Biden.

According to Dartmouth government professor Sean Westwood, there is “very little” that will change his supporters' views of the former president.

“Americans either think this trial is a political vendetta or long-due justice,” Westwood says.

“Undecided voters who are struggling to buy groceries or pay rent are not just watching the trial. It is easy to get stuck in the play-by-play of the trial, but it isn't clear that average Americans care.”

Postpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 31 May

15:03 BST 31 May

In the next hour, we're going to answer some of your most pressing questions about Donald Trump and the guilty verdicts.

Stick with us as we shed some light on the consequences of this historic case.

John Sudworth
Reporting from inside Trump Tower

I'm inside Trump Tower on New York's Fifth Avenue, as the ranks of media cameras line up at the foot of that very same golden escalator where Trump launched his first bid for president all those years ago.

His speech back then - in which he conjured a picture of a failing America besieged by migrants who he described as "rapists" - set the angry, defiant tone for much of what has followed.

But that soon may pale in comparison with what we're about to hear.

The former president's messaging in the wake of the verdict seems to suggest a coming summer of deep grievance, in which he doubles down on his narrative - made without evidence - that America's institutions have been weaponised against him.

As we've reported, Donald Trump is due to deliver a news conference at Trump Tower in New York at 11:00 local time (16:00 BST).

The gilded tower in midtown Manhattan is where he has delivered some of his most memorable - and controversial - moments.

In 2015, Trump descended the tower's golden escalator to announce his run for president.

“Sadly the American dream is dead, but if I get elected president I will bring it back,” he said. “Bigger, better and stronger than ever before.”

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

As we reported earlier, Russia has accused the White House of trying to "eliminate" a political rival in Donald Trump.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Prague, was just asked about the comment.

"I would say that's a classic case of projection," he says.

We've brought you plenty of reaction from the US today - now let's bring you some from the Republicans Overseas group in the UK.

"If anything it's going to galvanise [support]," the group's Greg Swenson tells the PA News agency.

"Trump is raising a tonne of money right now because of what happened.

"I think it will also help with independents and the undecided that they're seeing this real weaponsiation of the justice system."

On the other side, Democrats Abroad UK said the White House had asked party members not to comment on the case and to let the law run its course. "Nobody is above the law," a spokeswoman added.

Image source, EPA

As we've been reporting, Donald Trump could be sent to prison - though most legal experts agree that this is not likely.

So what could Trump be facing when he is sentenced on 11 July?

All 34 charges he was found guilty of are class E felonies in New York (the lowest tier in the state). Each charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison and up to a $5,000 (£3,900) fine.

One scenario could see Justice Merchan choosing a combination of fines, probation and/or community service.

If probation or supervision is the sentence, it would require him to check-in regularly with a probation officer.

A conditional discharge, the lightest possible sentence, would mean he doesn't need to check-in with probation officers - so long as he steers clear of trouble.

House arrest, which would see the ex-president confined to his own home with an electronic monitor around his ankle, is also a possibility.

The latter option would allow Trump to campaign for president - albeit from the confines of his own four walls.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's come back to the UK for a second, where Nigel Farage has been speaking about Donald Trump's conviction.

Farage, honorary president of Reform UK, has long been a supporter of Trump, even speaking at his campaign rallies.

"This verdict is a disgrace. Trump will now win big," Farage wrote on X.

He then went on GB News in the UK, where he said: "Of course I'm going to stand up and defend Donald Trump. I believe the world - as uncertain as it is - will be a much safer place with him in the White House."

"I'll be helping him," he added.

Pratiksha Ghildial
Reporting from Trump Tower

After spending six weeks at the Manhattan criminal court, the BBC team has moved to midtown, outside the Trump Tower, to cover the aftermath of that historic verdict.

I can see lines and lines of US media lining the sidewalk opposite Trump’s residence in New York, where - as we just reported - Trump is due to speak at 16:00 BST (11:00 local time).

Many of the media probably had a late night like us, and are all set with their coffees for today’s coverage.

Image source, EPA

Americans are beginning to wake up on Friday morning - a day after the country saw a former or serving US president convicted of a crime for the first time.

Here's a re-cap of where we're at:

• Shortly after being convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, Donald Trump emailed supporters saying it was "a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt"
• Trump said the "real verdict" would come on election day - 5 November
• President Joe Biden's campaign said the verdict showed that "no-one is above the law" and urged Americans to make sure Trump doesn't return to the White House
• Trump is due to give a press conference at Trump Tower in New York at 11:00 local time (16:00 BST)
• International reaction has been fairly muted - but Russia accused the White House of "eliminating its political rivals by all possible legal and illegal means"

Stick with us as we'll soon be answering some of our readers' most pressing questions about this historic verdict, as well as bringing you analysis and updates from our correspondents in New York.

In the six weeks leading up to last night's historic verdict, one noticeable absence in the courtroom was Donald Trump's own wife: Melania.

That may not come as a surprise. The hush-money case revolved around a $130,000 (£100,000) payment made to a porn star to hide Trump's alleged tryst with her - a tryst that Trump denies took place - all while he was married to Melania.

Other Trump family members, however, have not been so quiet.

His son, Eric, who was sat behind the former president when the verdict was read out, was grasped by his father for a moment when he walked past him on his way out of court. He later took to X to say he viewed 30 May as the day his father "might be remembered" as having won the presidential election.

Donald Trump Jr, taking to TikTok, surmised his feelings more succinctly with an expletive.

Trump's daughters, Tiffany and Ivanka, were both absent at the Manhattan courtroom on Thursday. But Ivanka, his eldest daughter, also took to social media to share the heartfelt message: "I love you dad."

Image source, Instagram

Image source, EPA

Of course, there's also been lots of reaction to Donald Trump's conviction in the US itself - from Democrats and Republicans alike. Here's a brief reminder of who's said what.

“In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,” President Joe Biden's campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said soon after Thursday's ruling.

Adam Schiff, a Democratic congressman, wrote on X: “Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny - justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same."

But Trump's supporters had a different take.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene blasted the "SHAM trial" on X. "You don't see this level of corruption in a banana republic", she wrote, directing people to a Trump fundraiser.

And the former president also received support from the highest-ranking Republican in the US government, House Speaker Mike Johnson. "Today is a shameful day in American history," he wrote. "President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict - and he WILL WIN."

There's been some reaction coming out of Moscow to Donald Trump's conviction.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says the Trump conviction shows the White House is "eliminating its political rivals by all possible legal and illegal means".

Let's continue with our look at how the news has been received in the UK. We've had fresh reaction from the nation's party leaders who are campaigning in their own election - set to take place on 4 July (more coverage on that here).

While responding to a question on whether he would work with a convicted criminal in the White House, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he is "focused squarely on the election here at home".

"You wouldn't expect me to comment on another country's domestic politics or judicial processes," the Conservative leader has said while speaking to broadcasters.

Meanwhile, Labour's Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of one of the main opposition parties, has said if his party is successful in the upcoming polls, they will work with whoever is elected to the White House in November.

"Ultimately, whether he [Trump] is elected president will be a matter for the American people," he says.

Starmer, a former senior criminal prosecutor himself, also said that he and his party "obviously respect the decision of the court, the independent court".

Let's now hear from two Americans living in the UK.

Brian Klaas is an associate professor of global politics at University College London.

He tells BBC Radio 5 Live the merits of Donald Trump's conviction are "not under dispute".

But Jennifer Ewing from Republicans Overseas UK believes the case "has been absolutely politicised" and that Trump had been only guilty of a "book-keeping error".

She says the "ultimate verdict" will be on 5 November at the ballot box.

Image source, Getty Images

As we mentioned earlier, Trump's lawyers say they'll appeal all the guilty verdicts against the one-time president.

"Every aspect of this case is ripe for appeal," his lawyer Will Scharf said late last night on Fox News.

Because of these probable imminent appeals, it's been suggested that Trump's sentencing - which is scheduled for 11 July - could be delayed. Some legal experts have said it could take place after the 5 November presidential election.

"There's a very good chance that the case is going to be overturned on appeal but the question is: will that happen before the election? The likelihood of the appeal being heard before the election is not very good," lawyer Annemarie McEvoy told the BBC last night.

"So he will probably be a convicted felon when he runs for office in November."

Holly Honderich
Reporting from Washington DC

To put it bluntly, no.

Presidents can issue pardons for those who have committed federal offences. The hush-money case in New York is a state matter, meaning it would be out of Trump’s reach if he becomes president again.

Pardon powers are unclear for Trump’s two federal cases - one concerning the alleged mishandling of classified documents, and the other on conspiring to overturn the 2020 election.

In the first, a Trump-appointed judge in Florida has indefinitely postponed the trial, saying setting a date before resolving questions about evidence would be “imprudent”. The second outstanding federal case was also delayed while an appeal from Trump plays out.

Neither are likely to take place before the November election, but even if they do, constitutional scholars disagree on whether a president’s pardon power includes himself. Trump, of course, could be the first to try.